Support for postgraduate researchers affected by current events in the Middle East

If you have already informed us you are unable to return to the UK, your Graduate School will contact you to advise you further.

If you have not yet informed us that you can’t attend in person as you are not in the UK, please let us know by either:

• completing the PGR location confirmation form,
• contacting your Graduate School,
• or contacting the Student Information Service.

If you are currently in an area affected by current events in the Middle East and need to return to the University, please contact your Graduate School as soon as possible. They will discuss your current circumstances and provide appropriate advice and support.

If you have not yet reached your overtime period

If you are currently unable to return to the UK and you have not yet reached your overtime period, remote study is not permitted under the conditions of your Student Visa.

However, there are several other options available to support you to take time out from your studies during this time. Please speak to your Graduate School about your options.

If you are in your overtime period

If you have completed your standard period of study and are now in your overtime period, it may be possible to support remote study so that you can complete your programme from outside the UK.

If you would like to explore this option, please speak to your Graduate School.

Please note that remote study and completion during the overtime period must be reported to UKVI and will affect your Student Visa.

If you have travelled outside the UK to undertake an approved period of fieldwork in the Middle East which was covered under a ‘Change of Study Location’ it may be possible for you to continue your studies remotely at the moment.

However, your fieldwork risk assessment and/or your agreed fieldwork plans may need to be reviewed to ensure that they remain appropriate and that you can continue your research safely and in line with University requirements.

Please speak to your supervisor in the first instance.

If you are located in the Middle East but not sponsored under the Student Visa route, for example, you returned home during your overtime period, or you are a split‑site or distance‑learning PGR, you can continue to study at this time, if you feel able to.

We understand that your ability to engage with your research may depend on your circumstances and how current events are affecting you or your family, and we fully appreciate that this may be a challenging time.

If you need some short-term flexibility, please speak with your supervisors or your Graduate School. They can support you with temporary adjustments such as adjusting a deadline for submitting work or making short‑term changes to your research plan.

If you feel that you are not able to study right now, there are also options to take a break. These include:

• authorised absence,
• annual leave, or
• a suspension of studies if a longer period away is needed.

Please talk to your Graduate School so they can discuss these options with you and help you decide what is best for your circumstances.

If you are in Leeds and are impacted by the events in the Middle East, it’s completely understandable that this could impact on your ability to study at the moment.

In the first instance, we encourage you to speak with your Graduate School or your supervisor. They can help you explore temporary adjustments that might support you to continue your studies during this period. This could include, for example:

• adjusting the deadline for submitting work, or
• temporarily revising your research plan.

If you feel that you are not able to study at all right now, there are options to take a short break. If you think you may need a longer break from your studies, a suspension of studies can be considered.

If you are continuing to study at the moment, but feel unable to attend a scheduled supervision meeting, please talk to your supervisors to explain, and re-schedule within the next two weeks.

In the meantime, please speak to your Graduate School who can direct you to appropriate support.

You can submit a request for an extension of studies if you have been affected by current events in the Middle East and think you will need more time for your transfer or thesis submission.

Please contact your Graduate School for advice and support in the first instance.

When you submit a request for an extension, you don’t need to submit evidence of how you have been affected, other than to provide a brief summary of the impact on you on the GRAD application form.

If your viva has been arranged but you have been affected and are worried that you won’t be able to perform well, please talk to your Graduate School and supervisors to explore rearranging your transfer or final viva. 

If you are abroad and currently unable to return to the UK, there are options that allow you to take an approved absence or break from your studies until you are able to resume study in the UK.

Similarly, if you are in the UK and feel that you are not able to study at all right now and need to take a short break, there are options available.

Your Graduate School will be able to advise you on the most appropriate option and support you through the GRAD processes.

Authorised absence (up to 60 days)

The University can consider an authorised absence of up to 60 days within a 12‑month period. If you are a Student Visa holder, this does not need to be reported to UKVI and will not affect your visa, but you will need to be able to complete your studies within your current immigration permission.

Annual leave (up to 26 days)

All full‑time PGRs are also entitled to up to 26 days of annual leave per year (pro rata for part time). This is in addition to University closed days, which includes the upcoming Easter closure period: Thursday 2 April to Tuesday 7 April 2026 (inclusive).

Suspending your studies

If you believe you may need a longer break from your studies, a suspension of studies can also be considered.

You can suspend your studies for a minimum of two months, up to a normal maximum of 12 months. Your Graduate School can support you with the process and considering the appropriate period.

Suspensions can be taken at any point in the year, but cannot be backdated by more than one month. If you want to suspend your studies from 1 March we would recommend submitting your suspension request in GRAD by no later than Monday 23 March.

You do not need to submit evidence that you have been affected, other than to provide a brief summary of the impact current events are having on you on the GRAD application form.  

If you have a Student Visa, see information on how your visa will be affected if you suspend your studies.

Our advice is not to travel to countries impacted by current events in the Middle East.

The UK Government’s travel advice recommends avoiding travel to a number of Middle Eastern countries due to ongoing instability, and unfortunately, it is not yet clear when conditions will improve. We understand how challenging this uncertainty can be, and want you to be aware that travel disruptions could increase as airlines adjust routes and demand for alternatives rises.

If you decide to leave the UK, please be aware there’s a chance you might not be able to return to Leeds. This could affect your academic progress, as not all programmes and assessments can be completed remotely. There may also be implications for your visa, including increased costs, so it’s important to consider these factors before making any travel plans.

If you leave the UK:

• complete the PGR location confirmation form,
• record this as either annual leave or authorised absence or suspension, and
• make sure your Graduate School and your supevisor are aware of your plans.

Please contact your Graduate School who will be able to support you in considering the options depending on your circumstances.

If you are away for less than four weeks

If you will be away from your research activities for less than four weeks, your school may be able to approve this period as an authorised absence. 

Authorised absence does not need to be reported to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), and your Student Visa is not affected. In exceptional circumstances your school may be able to approve up to 60 days authorised absence in a 12 month period. Your school can only authorise this time away if the period will not significantly disrupt your research progress and you will still be able to complete your studies within your current immigration permission. If they feel that the length of time away means this would not be possible then you may need to apply to take a suspension of studies.

If you suspend your studies

If you apply for a suspension of studies and you are a Student Visa holder, the University is required to withdraw sponsorship of your visa, and UKVI will cancel it (and the visa for any dependants). By following these processes according to UKVI guidelines and regulations, this will protect you and your status, for example if you apply for a visa in the future.

Please note that your visa will no longer be valid for travel back to the UK. When you are able to return to study, you can request a new CAS to apply for a new Student Visa from your home country of residence and we will be able to provide you with relevant information.

Unfortunately, the University will not be able to cover new visa application fees or IHS costs.

Please see the suspensions, temporary leave and external students page for further information.

If you need to suspend your studies because of events in the Middle East, unfortunately, the University is not able to cover visa application fees or IHS costs for you or your dependants. These fees are set nationally and must be paid by applicants as part of the visa process.

Immigration‑related costs such as visa fees or the IHS fall outside the scope of the University’s Financial Assistance Fund. You should assume you need to meet these charges yourself.

If visa or IHS costs are making it hard for you to suspend your studies when you otherwise would, or to return to your studies after a suspension, please speak to your Graduate School as early as possible.

While the University cannot pay visa or IHS charges, we can work with you to understand your circumstances and help plan the timing of your return (taking any project requirements into account) so that your visa application can be made at a point that is more manageable for you financially.

The University has a Financial Assistance Fund that is open to all students and postgraduate researchers.

If it would be helpful to talk through your situation before submitting an application, you can email the Student Success team at studentsuccess@leeds.ac.uk or contact the Leeds University Union Advice team.  

If you are a funded student (sponsorship, scholarship or studentship) and have a question about your funding, please contact your Graduate School. They will be able to advise you directly or signpost you to the most appropriate support for your query.

We recognise that current events can affect people in different ways, and you may be feeling a range of emotions.

Our Counselling and Wellbeing teams can also provide professional support.

You may find The Student Grief Network’s article on coping with global events while studying helpful. Student Minds also offers guidance and resources to help students manage their wellbeing when dealing with the impact of global events.

Our Chaplaincy team is here to listen and support you, whether you follow a faith or not.

If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime or of any kind of violence, abuse, bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination, please contact the Harassment and Misconduct team.

You can share what has happened anonymously or provide your contact details. The Harassment and Misconduct team will then contact you within one working day.

You can also find harassment and misconduct support outside the University.

If you feel unsafe on campus or the University sports facilities, you can use the free SafeZone app to ask for help.